Preparation of a photochromic ink

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a photochromic ink, the process for its preparation which is based on a spiropyran powder obtainable by melting, cooling and crushing, and to a new form of a spiropyran obtainable thereby. 
     Said process to prepare a photochromic ink comprises the steps of
         a) heating and melting the spiropyran at a temperature below 250° C.,   b) cooling the melt to obtain a solidified spiropyran,   c) crushing the solidified spiropyran to obtain a powder,   d) optionally adding the powder to a binder providing the basis for the photochromic ink.

This application is a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 13/141,718, now granted filed on Dec. 23, 2009 which is the National Stage of International Application PCT/EP2009/067825, filed Dec. 23, 2009 the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to a photochromic ink, the process for its preparation which is based on a photochromic spiropyran powder obtainable by melting, cooling and crushing, and to a new form of a photochromic spiropyran obtainable thereby.

The use of photochromic inks or dyes is well known. By “photochromic ink” is meant a formulation formed as fluid ink which changes color when exposed to UV light radiation and provides a sufficiently high color density for use in the printing processes.

The International Application WO2005075978 (Freshpoint) describes the preparation of solvent-based or water-based printing inks comprising a spiropyran, an acrylate polymer as binder, a solvent or water and additives. The spiropyran is added as finely ground powder.

Spiropyrans used for preparing printing inks for time temperature indicators have to be easily dispersible. Therefore a small particle size of the spiropyran is required, for example obtained by intensively milling using standard bead mills. This method has at least two drawbacks. First, the milling operation is a time-intensive process, as long milling times are required to produce small enough particles to enable the formation of a stable dispersion. Second, the milling operation can not be used for all spiropyrans as some spiropyrans irreversibly change their color during milling.

A good dispersibility is needed to obtain a high color strength. The use in aqueous and solvent-based systems is desired.

The problem underlying the present invention is to reduce the milling time and to prepare an easily activable spiropyran which can be easily converted into a colored spiropyran having a high color strength. “Easily activable” or “easily converted” means that only short exposure to UV light is required.

It has been found that spiropyrans after melting and re-solidifying show different properties compared to crushed spiropyrans obtained by milling. First, it is possible to combine the spiropyran powder with a basic ink formulation without intensive milling. Second, a very high color strength is obtained after activation with UV light. In order to reach the same color strength milled spiropyrans need a longer exposure time (circa 10 times longer) with UV light than the melted/re-solidified products.

Thus, the invention relates to a process to prepare a photochromic ink comprising the steps of

-   -   a) heating and melting a spiropyran, i.e. a photochromic         spiropyran at a temperature below 250° C., i.e. heating a         photochromic spiropyran until it has melted,     -   b) cooling the melt to obtain a solidified spiropyran,     -   c) crushing the solidified spiropyran to obtain a powder,     -   d) optionally adding the powder to a binder providing the basis         for the photochromic ink.

The invention further relates to a photochromic ink obtainable according to the process of claim 1.

The invention further relates to a photochromic spiropyran in the form of a powder which, after dispersion in a printing ink, has at least the double color strength than known forms of the same spiropyran, said powder being obtainable by

-   -   a) heating and melting a photochromic spiropyran at a         temperature below 250° C., i.e. carefully heating the spiropyran         until it has melted,     -   b) cooling the melt to obtain a solidified spiropyran, and     -   c) crushing the solidified spiropyran to obtain a powder.

The reason for the unique property of the new form of a spiropyran is not entirely clear. It may be due to the particle size. Spiropyrans of similar particle size may e.g. not be accessible by conventional methods due to reaggregation of small particles in the milling operation.

The inventive process allows the preparation of easily activable time temperature indicators in powder form which can be used in various ink formulations.

The decomposition temperature of spiropyrans is below 250° C., i.e. all spiropyrans so far tested by the present inventors at least start decomposing below or even far below 250° C. A certain degree, e.g. up to 20%, 30%, 40% or even 50%, of decomposition is acceptable since the gain in color strength by the inventive process more than compensates for the loss of intact spiropyrans by decomposition. However, some spiropyrans tend to decompose rather rapidly, some even explosively. Hence, due care should be taken not to raise the temperature more than is necessary to obtain a complete melt or not to use explosive spiropyrans in the process of the present invention, especially not in larger scale. Spiropyrans which are suitable for being used in the process of the present invention can easily be detected and selected, e.g. by heating an undangerously small amount of them until they melt and watching the decomposition behaviour.

The preferred manner of carrying out process step a) above is to heat the spiropyran until it has melted, i.e. to heat it only slightly, e.g. 2, 5 or 10° C. above its melting point which is usually in the range of 140-200° C., especially 150-190° C. Preferably, heating is continued until melting is complete, i.e. all of the spiropyran has melted, but in order to avoid circumvention of the patent protection the respective patent claim comprises also those modifications of the process wherein only a substantial portion, e.g. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 per cent (percent), of the spiropyran has melted.

The solidified spiropyran is in a transparent form.

Solidified is crystalline or semi amorphous. The term “semi-amorphous” herein means a spiropyran having an intermediate structure of an amorphous structure and a crystalline structure.

Cooling means, for example, cooling to room temperature or a temperature below room temperature and comprisesalso shock cooling. Shock cooling is preferably performed by pooring the melt on solid carbon dioxide (also called dry ice or carbon dioxide snow) or into liquid nitrogen whereupon the melt usually splits into tiny pieces.

The melting is carried out using any method of heat transfer, for example the melting is formed by heating using an oil bath, by melt extrusion, by radiation, e.g. NIR/IR radiation, heating using a hot air technology, heating by using a cold plasma and the like.

A short heating treatment is preferred to avoid the decomposition of the spiropyrans.

Polymeric, binders for inks include all polymers known to be used in inks, e.g. homopolymers, copolymers (random or block-copolymers) or mixtures thereof including polymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, acrylates or methacrylates (e.g. methyl acrylate or methyl methacrylate), styrene, acrylamide, vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, vinyl chloride, polyurethanes, cellulose nitrate, carboxymethyl cellulose. Preferred is a water-soluble or water- dispersible acrylic polymer. The binder is thus preferably an acrylic binder.

Inks contain a variety of additives to eliminate foaming, dispersion of pigments, rheological modifiers, and slip agents.

The inks comprise a total content of spiropyran of from 1 to 20% by weight, preferably 1.5-20% by weight, 2-20% by weight, 3-20% by weight based on the total weight of the ink.

The spiropyran-dispersed ink composition can be produced by employing various methods which have so far conventionally been known. For example, it can readily be obtained by blending the respective components (binder, additive, spiropyran powder) and mixing and stirring them by means of a stirrer such as a dissolver or mixing and crushing them by means of a ball mill.

The spiropyran compound is for example a spiropyran as disclosed (including processes for its manufacture) in WO 2008/083925 A1 or WO 2005075978 A2 (Freshpoint), or a spiropyran as disclosed in the European Application EP08156605 (Ciba), filed May 21, 2008 (corresponding to PCT/EP2009/05564 filed May 11, 2009 and published as WO2009141237 A1), all of which publications are incorporated herein by reference.

This is especially a spiropyran derivative of formula I:

wherein

-   -   R₁ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, —C₁-C₁₈ alkylthio, halogen,         —C₁-C₁₈ alkyl, —NO₂ or a phenyl radical, like preferably phenyl;     -   R₂ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy or NO₂;     -   R₃ is NO₂ or halogen;     -   R₄ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy or halogen;     -   R₅ is hydrogen, halogen, —C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, —COOH, —CF₃ or phenyl;     -   R₆ is hydrogen or R₆ and R₇ form together a phenyl ring;     -   R₇ is hydrogen;     -   R_(a) is hydrogen or —C₁-C₆ alkyl;     -   R_(b) is hydrogen or —C₁-C₆ alkyl, or together with R_(a) form a         5-6 membered ring;     -   Y is phenyl or benzyl wherein the phenyl or benzyl group may be         substituted by one or more groups selected from NO₂, fluorine,         bromine, chlorine, CF₃ or phenyl and may carry an annealed benzo         ring, or         -   Y is —CH₂—COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl or —CH₂—COOH or —CH₂—CO—N(R₁₀)—R₉;             or —CH₂—CO—N(R₁₀)-L-N(R₁₀) CO—CH₂—; wherein         -   R₉ is hydrogen, C₁-C₁₀alkyl, phenyl, mesityl, phenyl once or             more than once substituted by halogen, —CF₃, C₁-C₆alkyl,             —C₁-C₆ alkoxy, carboxy, —COO—C₁-C₆alkyl, —S-phenyl or             —CO-phenyl;         -   R₁₀ is hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl;         -   L is 1,3 phenylene or 1,4 phenylene wherein the phenylene             linker is optionally substituted by once or more than once             by halogen, —CF₃, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, carboxy, —CONH₂,             —CON(C₁-C₁₀alkyl)₂, nitro; or L is naphthalene, biphenylene             or phenylene-O-phenylene wherein the naphthalene,             biphenylene or phenylene-O-phenylene linker is optionally             substituted once or more than once by halogen, —CF₃, —C₁-C₁₈             alkoxy, carboxy, —CONH₂, —CON(C₁-C₁₀alkyl)₂, nitro.

Phenyl or benzyl Y carrying an is napthyl or napthylmethyl. Preferably, Y does not carry an annealed benzo ring.

Preferences

Preferred are compounds of the formula I wherein

-   -   R₁ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, —C₁-C₁₈ alkylthio, halogen,         —C₁-C₁₈ alkyl or —NO₂;     -   R₂ is hydrogen or —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy;     -   R₃ is NO₂ or halogen;     -   R₄ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy or halogen;     -   R₅ is hydrogen, halogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, —COOH, —CF₃ or phenyl;     -   R₆ is hydrogen or R₆ and R₇ form together a phenyl ring;     -   R₇ is hydrogen;     -   R_(a) is hydrogen or —C₁-C₆ alkyl;     -   R_(b) is hydrogen or —C₁-C₆ alkyl, or together with R_(a) form a         5-6 membered ring;     -   Y is phenyl or benzyl wherein the phenyl or benzyl group may be         substituted by one or more groups selected from fluorine,         bromine, chlorine, CF₃ or phenyl or Y is —CH₂—COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl or         —CH₂—COOH or —CH₂—CO—N(R₁₀)—R₉; or         —CH₂—CO—N(R₁₀)-L-N(R₁₀)CO—CH₂—; wherein         -   R₉ is hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, phenyl, mesityl, phenyl once or             more than once substituted by halogen, —CF₃, C₁-C₆alkyl,             —COO—C₁-C₆ alkoxy, carboxy, —COO—C₁-C₆alkyl, —S-phenyl or             —CO-phenyl;         -   R₁₀ is hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl;         -   L is 1,3 phenylene or 1,4 phenylene wherein the phenylene             linker is optionally substituted by once or more than once             by halogen, —CF₃, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, carboxy,             —CONH₂, —CON(C₁-C₁₈alkyl)₂, nitro; or L is naphthalene,             biphenylene or phenylene-O-phenylene wherein the             naphthalene, biphenylene or phenylene-O-phenylene linker is             optionally substituted once or more than once by halogen,             —CF₃, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, carboxy, —CONH₂,             —CON(C₁-C₁₈alkyl)₂, nitro.

Preferred are compounds of the formula I wherein

-   -   Y is

-   -   R₁ is C₁-C₆alkoxy, preferably methoxy,     -   R₂ is hydrogen,     -   R₃ is NO₂,     -   R₄ is hydrogen,     -   R₅ is hydrogen or C₁-C₆alkoxy,     -   R₆ is hydrogen,     -   R₇ is hydrogen,     -   R_(a) is methyl,     -   R_(b) is methyl,     -   R₁₀₀ is NO₂, bromine, fluorine or CF₃, preferably bromine,         fluorine or CF₃,     -   R₂₀₀ is hydrogen or fluorine.

Especially preferred is a compound of the formula I wherein

-   -   Y is nitro-benzyl, like especially 4-nitro-benzyl, or

preferably Y is 4-fluoro-benzyl or 2,4-difluoro-benzyl,

-   -   R₁ is methoxy,     -   R₂ is hydrogen,     -   R₃ is NO₂,     -   R₄ is hydrogen,     -   R₅ is hydrogen     -   R₆ is hydrogen,     -   R₇ is hydrogen,     -   R_(a) is methyl,     -   R_(b) is methyl,

The preferred compound has the following formula

The spiropyran compounds are molten and re-solidified by cooling to room temperature. The re-solidified spiropyran can easily be dispersed in an ink formulation. The milling time is reduced by factor 5 compared to unmolten spiropyrans. The exposure time of the ink formulation by UV radiation is less (approximately 4-40%, preferably 4-10%) compared to an ink formulation containing an unmolten spiropyran.

Furthermore preferred is a compound of the formula I wherein Ra and Rb together form a hexylene ring, Y is phenyl, R₁ is methoxy, R₂ is hydrogen, R₃ is nitro, R₄ is hydrogen, R₅ is hydrogen, R₆ is hydrogen R₇ is hydrogen. This preferred compound has the following formula

Furthermore preferred are compounds of the formula I wherein Y is —CH₂—COR,

-   -   R₁ is C₁-C₆alkoxy, C₁-C₆alkylthio, or a phenyl radical, like         especially phenyl, preferably R₁ is C₁-C₆alkoxy or         C₁-C₆alkylthio,     -   R is —C₁-C₆alkoxy or —NHR₉ wherein R₉ is phenyl, phenyl once or         more than once substituted by halogen, —CF₃, C₁-C₆alkyl, —C₁-C₆         alkoxy, —S-phenyl or —CO-phenyl,     -   R₂ is hydrogen,     -   R₃ is NO₂,     -   R₄ is hydrogen,     -   R₅ is hydrogen,     -   R₆ is hydrogen,     -   R₇ is hydrogen,     -   R_(a) is methyl and     -   R_(b) is methyl.

These compounds can be expressed by the following formula Ia

Especially preferred are further compounds of the formula la wherein R₁ is methoxy or ethoxy and R is

EXAMPLES Example 1 Melting 1 g 1′-(2,4-Difluorbenzyl),3′,3′-dimethyl-6-nitro-8-methoxy(2H-1-benzopyran-2,2′-2H-indol) (LF3233)

is heated in a glass tube at 160° C. for 5 minutes. The molten mass is cooled to room temperature and pulverized. The powder is then added to an aqueous based basic ink formulation using a planetary mill (available from Fritsch GmbH, Planetary Fritsch Pulverisette 7) to obtain a printing ink.

The basic ink formulation is described below.

The printing ink is then applied to a paper using a wiper. The film thickness is approximately 12 μm. The label obtained is activated using UV light.

The Table below shows that the molten and re-solidified spiropyran according to the invention needs only 1/10 of the UV Dosis to reach the same color strength as the unmolten spiropyran. The radiation time is reduced from 2 seconds to 0.2 seconds.

The values L, a and b used in the present text are informal abbreviations of the coordinates of the CIE color space L*, a* and b* and should not be mixed up with the Hunter values L, a and b. L (and L*) define the lightness axis of the CIE color space with 0 meaning black and 100 meaning white; a (and a*) define the location on the red—green axis (positive values are red, negative values are green, and 0 is neutral); and b (and b*) define the location on the blue—yellow axis (positive values are yellow, negative values are blue, and 0 is neutral).

The starting color values (uncharged) of the unmolten and the molten spiropyran are slightly different due to a slight discoloration during the melting process.

Unmolten 2 seconds activated: molten 0.2 seconds activated: L a b L a b uncharged 86.74 −0.14 4.27 81.84 1.51 1.33 charged 44.6 −0.54 −38.43 42.36 −4.94 −42.01

The bleaching kinetic is the same for both products. The following spiropyrans having a benzylic group Y are treated analogously as described in Example 1.

Melt- Melt- Exposure ing ing time to UV Temp Time radiation L- Lab No. R₁₀₀ R₂₀₀ R₁ R₅ (° C.) (min) (s) value LF3206 Br H OMe** H — — 10 53 195 1 4 34 LF3391 H H OMe H — — 10 41 170 1 4 29 LF2923 ** H OMe H — — 10 56 170 5 4 38 LF2807 F H OMe H — — 10 39 155 1 0.4 39 FP152 CF₃ H OMe H — — 10 27 160 5 10 11 FP258 CF₃ H OMe OMe — — 10 44 160 5 10 16 FP220 I H OMe H — — 10 37 185 5 10 22 *LF2923 carries a benzo ring which is annealed to the C-atom carrying the substituent R₁₀₀ and the C-atom marked with * in the above formula. **OMe means methoxy, i.e. OCH₃.

The following spiropyrans having an ester or amid group Y are treated analogously as described in Example 1.

Exposure Melting Melting time to UV Temp Time radiation Lab No. R R₁ (° C.) (min) (s) L-value LF3721 —OCH(CH₃)₂ OMe — — 10 31 (OCH₃) 150 5 4 14 LF3471

OMe — 190 — 1 10  4 67 40 LF3838

OMe — 180 — 1 10  4 63 38 LF3847

OMe — 180 — 1 10 10 85 50 LF4001

OMe — 180 — 1 10  1 77 44 LF3849

OMe — 180 — 1 10  1 69 40 LF4005

OMe — 180 — 1 10  1 68 35 LF4009

OMe — 180 — 1 10 10 77 43 LF3550

OMe — 180 — 1 10  4 73 44 LF4022

OMe — 180 — 1 10  1 70 32 LF4026

OMe — 180 — 1 10 10 71 38 LF4032 —OCH(CH₃)₂ OEt** — 180 — 1 10 10 82 55 LF4033 —OCH(CH₃)₂ SMe*** — 180 — 1 10  1 50 32 LF4035

OEt** — 180 — 1 10  1 76 42 LF4028

OMe — 180 — 1 10  4 76 59 LF4021

OMe — 180 — 1 10  4 74 61 R* indicates the position of the free valency forming the linkage to the rest of the spiropyran molecule. **OEt = ethoxy = —O—CH₂—CH₃ ***SMe = methylthio = —S—CH₃

The following spiropyran compound is treated analogously as described in Example 1

Unmolten 3 seconds activated molten 0.3 seconds activated L a b L a b uncharged 88.2 0.57 1.03 83.6 1.02 2.1 charged 63.6 1.05 1.8 44.17 −36.96 −30.53

The following spiropyran compound

is molten in a glass tube at 171° C. for 5 minutes and further treated according to Example 1.

unmolten 2 seconds activated molten 0.2 seconds activated L a b L a b uncharged 86.74 −0.14 4.27 81.84 1.51 1.33 charged 44.6 −0.54 −38.43 42.36 −4.94 −42.01

A Collin Teachline extruder E 20 T is heated to 160° C. The extruder is loaded with 500 g of the following spiropyran (LF2807),

and extruded out in 25 min.

The spiropyran is molten during the extrusion process and exites out as a high viscous liquid which is then cooled. Glassy plates are formed. The plates are crushed and added to an aqueous based basic ink formulation using a planetary mill (available from Fritsch GmbH,Planetary Fritsch Pulverisette 7) to obtain a printing ink.

molten 2 seconds activated L a b uncharged 89.7 −0.77 2.7 charged 29.97 −0.57 −36.95

3 g of the following spiropyran

is molten in a microwave (800 W) for 2 minutes. The molten mass is cooled to room temperature and pulverized. The powder is then added to an aqueous based basic ink formulation using a planetary mill (available from Fritsch GmbH,Planetary Fritsch Pulverisette 7) to obtain a printing ink

molten 2 seconds activated L a b uncharged 92.7 −0.58 1.8 charged 33.4 −0.62 −36.73

Preparation of the Water Based Printing Ink Which Contains 10% Spiropyran (TTI) Step 1: Basic Printing Ink

-   -   20 g Glascol® LS-16 (Ciba AG) (acrylic copolymer in an aqueous         solution) 20 g Joncryl® 74 (BASF AG)     -   0.25 g TEGOO Foamex 845 als antifoaming agent (Evonik Industries         AG)

Step 2: Preparation of the TTI-Printinq Ink:

-   -   1 g spiropyran (TTI)     -   9 g Basic printing ink     -   35 g zirconium oxide -balls having a diameter of 0.7-0.9 mm     -   Milling for 15 min at 650 rpm (rounds per minute) using a         planetary mill (Planetary Fritsch Pulverisette 7 available from         Fritsch GmbH, Germany).     -   Leaving the printing ink over night and separate the balls.

Example 2 Dispersing

The raw, i.e. crystalline and unmilled compound of the formula

(before melting step) is dispersed in the basic printing ink formulation described above according to the usual dispersion process described above, i.e. using a planetary mill (Planetary Fritsch Pulverisette 7 available from Fritsch GmbH, Germany) and milling at 650 rounds per minute (rpm), and the coloristical properties (especially L-Value→color development) are checked after 5, 15 and 30 minutes dispersion time. The color development after irradiation with UV light (cf. Example 3) is poor and very slow.

L a b uncharged 93.84 −1 2.75 5′ 73.79 −4.65 −4.25 Dispersion 15′ 63.79 −8.72 −12.72 Dispersion 30′ 59.24 −7.34 −10 Dispersion

The same compound

after melting step is also dispersed according to the usual dispersion process and the coloristical properties (especially L-Value→color development) are checked after 5, 15 and 30 minutes dispersion time. The color development after irradiation with UV light (cf. Example 3) shows that a very high and constant L-value is already obtained after only 5 minutes processing time (dispersion time).

L a b uncharged 91.77 −0.83 1.89 5′ 22 2.17 −39.47 Dispersion 15′ 21.74 2.83 −40.97 Dispersion 30′ 22.94 −1.97 −37.93 Dispersion

Example 3 Color Strength Comparison of Crystalline, Milled and Molten LF2807

Synthesis of crystalline LF2807 (as described on page 19 of WO 2008/083925 Al) having the structure:

Step 1) A solution of 2,3,3-trimethylindolenine (5.0 g, 31.4 mmol) and 4-fluorobenzylbromide (3.0 g, 15.7 mmol) in dry toluene 30 ml is stirred overnight at 80-85° C. The mixture is cooled to room temperature, filtered through a glass filter, washed with diethyl ether and dried under reduced pressure. The crude product is dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ and treated with 5% aqueous NaOH under stirring for 30 minutes. The organic phase is separated, dried over Na₂SO₄, passed through a short alumina column in equal parts per volume of hexane-CH₂Cl₂ and evaporated giving rise to a corresponding free base, which is immediately dissolved in 10 ml ethanol containing a few drops of triethylamine.

Step 2) A solution of 1-(4′-fluorobenzyl)-3,3-dimethyl-2-methylene-indoline (2.7 g, 10.0 mmol) and 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde (3.6 g, 13.0 mmol) is refluxed in 25 ml ethanol for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, filtered, triturated with 1% triethylamine (in water), washed with water, crystallized from ethanol, and dried under reduced pressure yielding crystalline LF2807.

Color Strength Comparison:

(A): Crystalline LF2807 is stirred in 5% loading in the basic printing ink described above using a standard Teflon made disk-stirrer (100 rpm) for 10 minutes.

(B) Crystalline LF2807 is dispersed and milled in 5% loading in the printing ink described above using a perl mill (pulverisette) with zirconium oxide beads (650 rpm) for 10 minutes.

(C) Crystalline LF2807 is molten, re-solidified, dispersed and milled in 1% loading in the printing ink described above using a perl mill (pulverisette) with zirconium oxide beads (650 rpm) for 10 minutes.

All produced inks are drawn on paper using a #2 doctor blade resulting in an ink thickness of aproximately 12 μm (wet). The prints are charged subsequently with UV light of 365 nm for 1 or 10 seconds as specified in the following table and the color is measured using a colorimeter.

The following results are obtained:

starting L- L-value color strength Experiment value Charging after loading (approximately) A 96 10 seconds 91 extremely low B 87  1 second 45 100%, comparison C 85  1 second 46 ~500%

As can be seen above, after dispersion in the printing ink by identical treatment in the perl mill, the molten, re-solidified and milled LF2807 (Experiment C) exhibits about the same L-value as the unmolten and milled LF2807 (Experiment B) despite the fact that the concentration of the active material in Experiment C is 5 times lower. Therefore the color strength for the molten, re-solidified and milled LF2807 is 500% as compared to the unmolten and milled LF2807 for which the color strength is set as 100%. The color strength of crystalline LF2807 which is not milled, but only stirred in the printing ink is extremely low. 

1. A process to prepare a photochromic ink comprising the steps of a) heating and melting a spiropyran at a temperature below 250° C., b) cooling the melt to obtain a solidified spiropyran, c) crushing the solidified spiropyran to obtain a powder, and d) adding the powder to a binder providing the basis for the photochromic ink.
 2. A photochromic ink obtainable according to the process of claim
 1. 3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the binder is water-soluble or water-dispersible acrylic polymer.
 4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the spiropyran is a compound of the formula I:

wherein R₁ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, —C₁-C₁₈ alkylthio, halogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkyl, —NO₂or a phenyl radical R₂ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy or NO₂; R₃ is NO₂ or halogen; R₄ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy or halogen; R₅ is hydrogen, halogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, —COOH, —CF₃ or phenyl; R₆ is hydrogen or R₆ and R₇ form together a phenyl ring; R₇ is hydrogen; R_(a) is hydrogen or —C₁-C₆ alkyl; R_(b) is hydrogen or —C₁-C₆ alkyl, or together with R_(a) form a 5-6 membered ring; Y is phenyl or benzyl wherein the phenyl or benzyl group may be substituted by one or more groups selected from NO₂, fluorine, bromine, chlorine, CF₃ or phenyl or Y is —CH₂—COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl or —CH₂—COOH or —CH₂—CO—N(R₁₀)—R₉; or —CH₂—CO—N(R₁₀)-L-N(R₁₀)CO—CH₂—; wherein R₉ is hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, phenyl, mesityl, phenyl once or more than once substituted by halogen, —CF₃, C₁-C₆alkyl, —C₁-C₆ alkoxy, carboxy, —COO—C₁-C₆alkyl, —S-phenyl or —CO-phenyl; R₁₀ is hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl; L is 1,3 phenylene or 1,4 phenylene wherein the phenylene linker is optionally substituted by once or more than once by halogen, —CF₃, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, carboxy, —CONH₂, —CON(C₁-C₁₈alkyl)₂, nitro; or L is naphthalene, biphenylene or phenylene-O-phenylene wherein the naphthalene, biphenylene or phenylene-O-phenylene linker is optionally substituted once or more than once by halogen, —CF₃, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, carboxy, —CONH₂, —CON(C₁-C₁₈alkyl)₂, nitro.
 5. A process according to claim 4, wherein the spiropyran is a compound of the formula I wherein R₁ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, —C₁-C₁₈ alkylthio, halogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkyl, or NO₂, R₂ is hydrogen or —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, Y is phenyl or benzyl wherein the phenyl or benzyl group may be substituted by one or more groups selected from NO₂, fluorine, bromine, chlorine, CF₃ or phenyl or Y is —CH₂—COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl or —CH₂—COOH or —CH₂—CO—N(R₁₀)—R₉; or —CH₂—CO—N(R₁₀)-L-N(R₁₀)CO—CH₂—; wherein R₉, R₁₀ and L are as defined in claim 4, and the remaining substituents are as defined in claim
 4. 6. A process according to claim 4, wherein the spiropyran is a compound of the formula I wherein Y is

R₁ is C₁-C₆alkoxy, R₂ is hydrogen, R₃ is NO₂, R₄ is hydrogen, R₅ is hydrogen or C₁-C₆alkoxy, R₆ is hydrogen, R₇ is hydrogen, R_(a) is methyl, R_(b) is methyl, R₁₀₀ is NO₂, bromine, fluorine or CF₃, R ₂₀₀ is hydrogen or fluorine.
 7. A process according to claim 4, wherein the spiropyran is a compound of the formula


8. A process according to claim 4, wherein the spiropyran is a compound of the formula I wherein Y is —CH₂—COR R₁ is C₁-C₆alkoxy or C₁-C₆alkylthio R is —C₁-C₆alkoxy or —NHR₉ wherein R₉ is phenyl, phenyl once or more than once substituted by halogen, —CF₃, C₁-C₆alkyl, —C₁-C₆ alkoxy, —S-phenyl or —CO-phenyl R₂ is hydrogen, R₃ is NO₂ R₄ is hydrogen, R₅ is hydrogen, R₆ is hydrogen, R₇ is hydrogen, R_(a) is methyl. R_(b) is methyl.
 9. A photochromic spiropyran in the form of a powder which, after dispersion in a printing ink, has at least the double color strength than known forms of the same spiropyran, said powder being obtainable by d) carefully heating a photochromic spiropyran until it has melted, e) cooling the melt to obtain a solidified spiropyran, and f) crushing the solidified spiropyran to obtain a powder.
 10. A spiropyran according to claim 9 having the formula I

wherein R₁ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, —C₁-C₁₈ alkylthio, halogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkyl, —NO₂ or a phenyl radical R₂ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy or NO₂; R₃ is NO₂ or halogen; R₄ is hydrogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy or halogen; R₅ is hydrogen, halogen, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, —COOH, —CF₃ or phenyl; R₆ is hydrogen or R₆ and R₇ form together a phenyl ring; R₇ is hydrogen; R_(a) is hydrogen or —C₁-C₆ alkyl; R_(b) is hydrogen or —C₁-C₆ alkyl, or together with R_(a) form a 5-6 membered ring; Y is phenyl or benzyl wherein the phenyl or benzyl group may be substituted by one or more groups selected from NO₂, fluorine, bromine, chlorine, CF₃ or phenyl or Y is —CH₂—COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl or —CH₂—COOH or —CH₂—CO—N(R₁₀)—R₉; or —CH₂—CO—N(R₁₀)-L-N(R₁₀)CO—CH₂—; wherein R₉ is hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, phenyl, mesityl, phenyl once or more than once substituted by halogen, —CF₃, C₁-C₆alkyl, -C₁-C₆ alkoxy, carboxy, —COO—C₁-C₆alkyl, —S-phenyl or —CO-phenyl; R₁₀ is hydrogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl; L is 1,3 phenylene or 1,4 phenylene wherein the phenylene linker is optionally substituted by once or more than once by halogen, —CF₃, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, carboxy, —COO—C₁-C₁₈alkyl, —CONH₂, —CON(C₁-C₁₈alkyl)₂, nitro; or L is naphthalene, biphenylene or phenylene-O-phenylene wherein the naphthalene, biphenylene or phenylene-O-phenylene linker is optionally substituted once or more than once by halogen, —CF₃, —C₁-C₁₈ alkoxy, carboxy, —CONH₂, —CON(C₁-C₁₈alkyl)₂, nitro. 